'Learning German has opened many doors for me'

Deepak Kumar tells us his fascinating story of how he happened to learn German 'accidentally' from an author in Hamburg.

He mailed us his experience in response to our invite asking readers to 'share your experience of learning a foreign language'. 

Here's what he learned:

• Learning a foreign language not only brings individuals together but also helps to learn a new culture.
• I can communicate in German without attending a professional course, which is a big achievement.
• Knowing German can also help me make a career in German speaking nations and organisations.
• Learning German has opened many doors for me. 

I am a software engineer working with Siemens.

I accidentally met a German online.

He is an author and a scholar and lives in Hamburg.

One day I just wrote him a few lines in German.

He replied to me politely and offered to help me learn German.

That was the beginning of an extraordinary story between a German and an Indian.

Since that day that I regularly send him a document written in German.

He corrects it and sends back the corrected document.

This has been going on since the last two years without a break.

There hasn't been a single day when he has not corrected my document and sent it to me the same day.

His name is Mr Ulrich Voigt.

He is an extraordinary gentleman with a big heart.

In today's world no one spends even a second for their kith and kin. But Mr Voigt is doing it for me; such is his generosity and humility.

Learning a foreign language not only brings individuals together but also helps to learn a new culture.

That is exactly what happened with me.

I have learned so much about Germany and its culture because of this activity.

Now I can communicate in German without attending a professional course, which is a big achievement.

Few months ago I visited Germany and met Mr Voigt for the first time.

He spared a day for me and came to meet me in Berlin.

He even took me to his daughter's place where I met the family and spent a good time with them.

Since I understood German it was easy for me to communicate with them.

I visited many museums, parks and other places in Berlin.

Because I knew the local language I found it quite convenient to understand their culture and way of living.

This is the social aspect of knowing a foreign language.

Foreign languages help us understand the historical significance of the country and explore what they have done in the past.

Knowing German can also help me make a career in German speaking nations and organisations.

We all know that the education system of Germany is excellent.

With the knowledge of local language one can reap the benefits of pursuing an education in the country.

Learning German has opened many doors for me.

I would like to thank Mr Ulrich Voigt for mentoring me all the time. Sir, you are a man with golden heart.

Reader Invite

Dear readers, have you learnt a foreign language that expanded your horizons?

How did your worldview change? What were your experiences like?

We would love to know!

Please write in to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject: 'The foreign language that opened new doors') and share with us your experiences of discovering a new world!

We will publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com. So hurry!

Lead image used for representational purposes only

Photo: Reuters